ANZAC Day

[El Presidente]

Thank you to all who have served in our armed forces. Thank you to their families. 

A thank you as well to our allies whom have served with our men and women around the globe. 

Today is ANZAC day in Oz. A day of remembrance. 

This is a song from a local band called Red Gum. Sums it up well. 

 

 

[DevilDog72]

Gods Speed to those who serve

[Fuzz]

Thank you to all who served, both past and present.

 

[Jimmy_jack]

Thank you to those who served, and their families. 

[WarriorPrincess]

That song always brings a tear or two to my eye, so sad for the lives lost and the families left behind. 

God bless to all who have served and still are, be safe and come back to your loved ones. 

[Ken Gargett]

fully echo all sentiments. 

members of both sides of my family have fought in both world wars. some lived, some did not. inconceivable to think about these days. 

i was named after my dad's uncle who was killed on the kokoda trial in PNG in WWII. by pure chance, on my one trip to PNG, i managed to find his grave. no one in the family had ever been told his body had even been found. incredibly emotional for the family, including dad, to learn that and to see photos. we had already visited the grave of dad's other uncle, in copenhagen. he was a gunner in a wellington bomber (i think - might have been a lancaster) which was shot down over the baltic sea. not many planes were recovered when that happened but his was. 

on the other side, my grandfather spent three and half years in trenches in france. reading his diary is a profound experience, though he is very matter of fact about the actual fighting. talks about the day he was hit by bombs not once but twice, as though it was a tennis game. he won the military cross and bar. not sure what the second was for but the first, he and his mates were pinned down by a german machine gun nest so he managed to sneak up, get into the nest and killed all the germans (i was young when he passed by i remember him as the nicest and gentlest man you could meet). none of that is in the diary, just the dispatches. he had three brothers who also served. one died, both my grandfather and another quite badly injured (and gassed) and the fourth, who landed at gallipoli on day 2 and then served the rest of the war in the trenches in france, not a scratch. there is a story, i think i have told it before, about how he and his mates were going in on the landing craft under fire and one had a pack of cards. they decided to deal the pack and whoever got the joker would be first to cop it. my grandfather's brother was the second to receive a card and sure enough, the joker. so he was not expected to last any time at all. four years and not a scratch. very few so fortunate. 

it is impossible to adequately thank all the men and women who have served. 

[Head83]

I served with Aussies at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan back in 2011. Great bunch of guys. We made the best out of a really shitty place and had a blast together.  I’ll drink one tonight to all those who served!!

[PuffDaddie]

Happy Anzac to all who serve.

[OZCUBAN]

Thanks for your sacrifice 

Lest we forget 

[gweilgi]

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

 

[Islandboy]

I’m of the fortunate generation that was young enough to have only experienced the Vietnam war via Walter Cronkite on TV, but old enough to have not found myself in the midst of the next big conflict. At 19, it was only the threat of this unimaginable thing called nuclear warfare hanging over my head, via the Russians. To say I grew up despising war and those who wage it is an understatement...but I’m also keenly aware that it’s not nearly that simple or convenient, especially when you’re not much more than a kid. Mere words are completely inadequate when it comes to expressing one's gratitude toward those who bravely face the uncertainties and consequences of honorable service to Country, and to those whose lives were ended far too early because of it.        

[CampDelta369]

ANZAC Day 2019

To all that have served, past and present,

Thank you for our freedom.

[Hookmaker]

Just out of curiosity, are there a lot in here that didn’t serve in some way? I served in the Danish navy and in UNFICYP in Cyprus in the 80’es. Not exactly war zones, - but I did see my share of Soviet landing exercises in the Baltic during a time of extreme tension where you never knew if it was today or tomorrow. The Cyprus days were mostly spent on the beaches?

[ChanceSchmerr]

Happy ANZAC day to all.  From the Arabian Sea where my ship is operating in the same task group as HMAS Ballarat, we honour those fallen Australian comrades, and we honour those who have served and continue to serve today. My respect for the RAN runs deep - always professional experiences when I've worked alongside them.  One of my fondest memories in my naval career was a "Cross-Pol" exchange I did, spending a day at sea with HMAS Anzac.

Lest we forget.

[MoeFOH]

A day for "a spirit of respectful commemoration". Have followed Redgum and John Schumann (I Was Only 19 songwriter) since I was a kid. Always try to catch his gigs when I can. He has a couple of great solo albums "Behind The Lines" and "Lawson". The former is primarily a collection of songs about Australians at war, and the latter a collection of Henry Lawson's poems put to music... both brilliant, and both will get a solid workout on my sound system today. 

The first song below was commissioned by Lt Gen David Morrison (a self-confessed Redgum tragic) to commemorate indigenous service in the Australian forces and the second one is another touching Anzac tribute. Both are well worth a listen. 

 

[El Presidente]

Lest we forget 

 

[Toast & Taste]

I had the opportunity to celebrate ANZAC day in Perth a few years ago. 

Lest any of us, Ausealanders or otherwise,  forget.

Big Al 

[LordAnubis]

We will remember them and let us one day learn from your sacrifice. 

[Chucko8]

Lest we forget 

[OZCUBAN]

Lest we forget